Why it Matters: Momentum Builds in Western Sahara Court Cases

Independent Diplomat

10 March 2018

Last week, the EU Court of Justice ruled that the EU-Morocco fisheries deal is not applicable to Western Sahara or its adjacent waters. The judgement is the latest in a string of legal victories to affirm that Morocco has no sovereignty over Western Sahara or its natural resources. This reality was underscored last month when the High Court of South Africa confirmed that the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic was the rightful owner of 55 tons of phosphate rock aboard the NM Cherry Blossom. The vessel’s cargo – detained in South Africa with phosphates illegally exploited in Western Sahara and bound for New Zealand – will now be returned to the Saharawi people.